Monday, June 18, 2012

Know Your Place • Insurgent

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

I was a very big fan of the first book in the series, Divergent, so my expectations for Insurgent may have been the teensiest bit high. I am happy to report that Veronica Roth not only met my expectations, but solidly surpassed them.

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

It's taken me nearly two weeks to try to wrap my mind around why I love it so much, but still, I don't think there's any more accurate way to begin writing this review other than the above sentence.

What I really liked about Insurgent is, surprisingly, Tris. She went through a lot towards the end of the first book and it definitely shows its effects in this novel. The shift in her personality as a reaction to the trauma and stress is so noticeable and, personally, so heart-wrenching in its authenticity. The way that Veronica Roth took care to make Tris' reaction realistic definitely wins me over.

That having been said, the romance was definitely a prime contender for things I liked about this book. There's a real relationship in this novel between Tris and Four; and that thought really struck me as I realized how imperfect it was. Here were two people, each with secrets and fears and pain, and these things really affected their way of relating to each other. What makes their relationship still swoony and romantic is the fact that - time and again, they choose to be with each other and to love each other.

Of course, I'm probably biased since I fell madly in love with Four in the first book.

At the end of Insurgent, just as with Divergent, there's another major twist in Tris and Four's world - and it really took me by surprise, if I'm honest. I was not expecting it at all and I'm actually quite excited to see where Veronica Roth is going to take us in the next installment of the Divergent series.

So yes, reading this book is a MUST.

(And if you haven't read Divergent yet, well, you have this summer to remedy that, yes?)

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25 comments

Hi! I wish I liked Insurgent as much as Divergent. I am really pumped about that surprise twist though. I just wish I had a better grasp on the environment and how it worked. Perhaps that will come in the next installment and I'll have some more clarity. Four though. Love him. Love!

YES! I've read a few reviews that had readers put off by the conflict between Tris and Four, and I get that, but...I ate it up! It was painful, sure, but it was realistic and honest. I loved their growth!

Great review, Alexa! I loved Insurgent, too, and I'm dying to get my hands on book three!

Ah yay!!! So glad you loved it, too!!! You are so right with all of your points...they DO CHOOSE to love each other and to stay together. They work through a lot of crap that I think makes them such a great couple & team! There was so much action in this book & twists and turns...it was just...*sigh* amazing!

I'm one of those people who haven't read Divergent yet. I'm sort of ashamed of it. I really, REALLY need to pick these two books up this summer and read them. I don't know why I haven't done it yet, because they sound like something I'd really like. Your review has reminded me!

I enjoyed Insurgent but not as much as Divergent, don't get me wrong I'm still really excited for book 3 but I think Tris really needs to forgive herself for Will's death I found myself wanting to shake her at certain points. Great review!

Haha. I stuck around just long enough to see, "I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK." I'm lame and have not read Divergent or Insurgent, so I did not want to get any further. It's wonderful to know that you loved this one as well! Sometimes the middle book in a trilogy is disappointing.

LOL! I did the same thing Jana did ;) I also read the end where you say that I must remedy not reading Divergent this summer :) I REALLY want to! Your enthusiasm for both of these books made me first buy Divergent and then without reading it pre-ordering Insurgent. And glad this book doesn't suffer from second-book-syndrome! :D

I love, love how you put this, "time and again, they choose to be with each other and to love each other." So true, and so beautiful. I don't think I realized that when I read it. Their relationship was definitely very painful - so many of their challenges really hurt me. I wanted nothing but the best for them, even though I knew that wasn't going to happen easily, and it just hurt to see them hurt so much. :(

I was seriously brokenhearted for Tris and Four for a lot of this book, but I do appreciate how Veronica managed to make things seem realistic between them. It's the fact that they choose to stay together that warms my heart and makes their romance even more special to me.

I was honestly just not expecting what happens in the end - the revelation thing - and that was my twist. I think of it as a twist, but I'm not sure if others do! I'm excited to find out what happens next as well :)

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Hi, I'm Alexa! 29 years old, married to the love of my life, resident of New York. Extremely passionate about books, adventures and the importance of dessert. Hope you stick around a while and enjoy a blog post or two! (PS - Here are my review & blog policies.)